Portable and collapsible pile driver



Feb. 27, 1940. B. v. MILL-AM 2,192,091

PORTABLE AND COLLAPSIBLE PILE DRIVER Filed April 26, 1937 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Feb. 27, 1940. s. v. MILLAM PORTABLE .AND COLLAPSIBLE PILE DRIVER Fuga April 26, 4193'? s shuts-sheet 2 6? VMM/ aw orneys l Feb. 27, 1940. B, MlLLAM 2,192,091

Pon''ABLE Arm coLLAPsIBLE PILE DRIVER Filed April 2s, 1957 :s shuts-shut s nvenor Patented Feb. 27, 1940 ,PATENT oFFicE l'PoIrrriLEAND coLLAPsIBLE PILE DRIVER Bruce V. jMillam, Menlo, Wash; Appiiation April 26, 1937, serial No. 139,062

l 6 Claims.

My invention relates generally to pile driving apparatus or the like, and particularly to a collapsible and easily transportable pile driver, and an important object of my invention is to 'prof ,videa'practicaland efiicient'arr'angement of this character.

Other important objects of my invention will be apparent from a readingof the following description taken in connection with the. drawings,

107.]wherein for purposes of illustration I have Ishown a preferred embodiment of my invention..

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a general side elevational View of the embodiment.

Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the embodiment showing thesame in collapsed condition.

Figure 3 is afhorzontal sectional view partly in top plan and ytaken approximately on the liney 3-3 of Figure 1, looking downwardly in the drection of the arrows. l

Figure 4 is an enlarged elevationalview taken from right tov leftin Figure 1.

Figure 5 is an enlarged transverse'rvertical sectional View taken through Figure 1 approximately on the line 5-5 and'lookingftoward lthe right in the directioniof the arrow.

Figure' is an enlarged fragmentary side elevational view of the structure at. the upper ends -of thegins. l

Figure '7 is a diagrammatic view showing the manner in lwhich the cable 68 is trained over the pulleys 65 and 6l shown in Figure 3 of the drawings.

comprises the converging longitudinal side members 6 and 'I which have fastened to the tops 40.- thereof and extending therebetween at the wide vend of the frame several vcross members 8 and a contracting bolt 9. members I0 are fastened longitudinally across the cross members Sand terminate'at their front yends under a transverse block I.Il which is fastened to the side members andalso to the rear ends of diagonal braces I2 and I3 which cross'each other and are fastened to the top of the chassis 5., Additional cross.- braces I4 and I5. occupy positions forwardly of the braces I2 and I3 and these have `theirmfront ends fastened underv a` crossy member .Iandwith the front endsA of the' braces l2 and I3, the rear ends ofthe braces I4 and kl5 abut a .heavy cross member Il whiczhr isV fastened .to :the-top of the` side membersl' and.' 1 and ex- Referring `in detail tothev drawings, 1the nut meral 5 .generally designates the frame or chassis of the pile driver which is of tapered form and` Platform constituting tends beyond the side members 6 and l as clearly shown in Figure 3 of the drawings. I

yForwardly of ythe cross member I6 is a platform lhaving its rear end located between the' elements I9 and 2Q and its front end located be- 5 tween the lower ends of the gin poles 2| and 22 which are fastened to the cross member 25' at this point. The gin braces 23 and 24 are hinged to *ther cross member I6 to the rearof the platform I3. Another crossmember 25 having itsends extending beyond the side members 6 and 1 is lo-A cated forwardly of and abutting the members 2l and v22 and from this cross member rise the lower stationary sections 26 and 21 of the gins. Additional-vertical stationary sections 28 and 29 rise from the side members 6 and l. The heavy y cross member,y Il. has vshort vertical standards 3l! and 3l rising therefromas shown in Figure 5 of the drawings and across the top of these standards rests a cross member 32 which surmounts intersecting diagonal braces 33 and 34, the cross member 32 and the opposite ends of the cross braces 33 and 34 being traversed by respective assembling bolts 35 and 36 which traverse alsov the heavy cross member Il at the laterally inward sides of the standards 30 and 3|.

Hinge housings 3l' and 38 are bolted to the outlying parts yof the heavy cross member Il as shown in Figurei. `Extending 'into these elements 3l and 38 are the swingable gin braces 39 and 40 whose lower ends are pivoted on pins 4I extending across the elements 3l and 38, the upper ends of the members 38 and 4|] being connec'ted to opposite sides of the pile driver structure in a manner to be described and guy cables 42 are connected by pivoted members 43 to the rear extremities of the chassis side members 6 and l, a turn-buckle 43 being provided in the cables for'the necessary tightening.

rIhe pile driver structure comprises the inclined sectionalbraces 44 which are separated on the line vindicated by the numeral 45,'one of the sections being `provided with a sleeve 46 which isslidablelto expose thev abutted ends of the sectionsfand free the sections relative' to each to enable collapsing the same as indicated in Figure 2 of the drawings. The lower end of the stationary section is pivoted to the side members 6 and 'I as already mentioned by hinge means 41 mounted on the cross members I6.- Ladder steps 48 may be provided to be fastenedto and extend between the braces 44, and longitudinal horizontal arms 49, 50 and 5I extend forwardly from the braces '44 and between them extend flooring members 52. Between upper portions of the members and drawn tight.

drawings. 4the cross member 58'.

To pull or raise the gins, a small hand line 69 is fastened around the tops of the members 4U members 44 is mounted the weight retainer lever 53 which is in a form of a bell crank and has an operating rod 54 depending from one arm thereof and has its opposite arm engaged with a rod 55 on which is mounted a stop 56 which can, by operation of the rod 54 be placed forwardly under the weight (not shown) to retain the weight in an elevated position or be withdrawn to permit the weight to fall in the operation of the pile driver. As Iindicated in the drawings the members d6 are located laterally outwardly of the members 44 and a removable bolt or rod 51 extends through the members 49 and through the@ vertical member 21.

A heavy cross member 58 rests on the top of the members 44, 21 and 29 and is connected thereto. The members 26, 21 and 28, 29 are sectional and have the stationary portion thereof mounted to the chassis frame as already mentioned and the movable upper sections thereof fastened to the upper member 59 of a hinge arrangement whose pivot is designated by the numeral Hl. 'Ihe pivot 69 is a bolt traversing the stationary section 6l which is mounted and fastened to inverted V-shaped braces 62 and 63 which are mounted on the chassis members 6 and 1, respectively, between the members 44 and the members' 21, the elements 2l and 22 already mentionedconstituting one arm thereof. The .hinge elements 59 and Gl'have step-cut formations 54' which interlock when the sections of the members 26, 21 and 28, 29 come into vertical alignment.

A sheave 65 is mounted on the top cross member 58 and over this is trained the pile driving weight operating cable 66 which is also trained over a pulley 61r connected to the upper ends of the members 49 as shown in Figure 6 of the A gin tilting cable 61 is tied around and fastened to the corresponding chassis side This prevents the main ginv braces 49 from rising. l'I'hen the main line 68 from the drum or power driven hoist on the rear of the chassis frame (not shown) is passed over the cross member 58 up through the `pulley 61 to the eye bolt l'and to the pulley 65 and downthrough the pulley 65 and back to the member d and `fastened securely. 'I'he haulback line 61 is then taken from the second drum on the powery driven hoist (not shown) and fa's tened securely to the cross member 58. The

coupling sleeves 46 are then unfastened and slid down so as to'disconnect the sections of the members 44 and the hinged portion of the ladder braces is then folded back. The main line 68 is then tightened slightly while the guy lines 42 are loosened by turning the turn buckles 43. The guy lines 42 are then unfastened completely by removing the pins in the clevises 43, whereuponv the bolts 51 are removed. The next step is to tighten the haul-back linel 68 and at the same 'time slack the main line 68 so as to cause the gins and the ladder brace to tilt back. slacking' of the main line is then continued until the gins and the ladder braces 4G come to rest on the cross member 32. line without changing the position of the other lines, the main gin braces will fold down to rest on the braces 62 and 63.

`To raise the gins and braces into position the foregoing-process is simply reversed.

A stationary truck'1l carries rear Wheels'12f By further slackening of the main ing tighteners 19 and 80, the first having a con-l .nection with a clevis 8| attached to a rearward point on the side members 6 and 1, and the latter having clevis attachment 82 .tor the forward portions of the side membersfof the chassis frame and the central portion thereof overlie the cross member 32. vTurn buckles 83 provide for the desired tightening. At the laterally inward sides of the vertical members 28 and 29y are the auxiliary strips 84 and 85. The cross member 25v as well as the vertically spaced cross members 86 which extend vbetween the members 26 and 21 are cutout as indicated by the numeral 81 to4 provide proper clearance for the weight (not shown). l t

.Although-I have shown and described herein a preferred embodiment of my invention, it is to be denitelyunderstood'thatI do Snot-desire to' limit the application of the invention. thereto,y and any changek or changes may be made in the materialsand in the structure and arrangement of the parts, within the spirit of the invention and'thescope of the subjoined claims.

Having described the invention what is claimed as new is:

1.,A pile driver comprising a vhorizontal ambulatory chassis, pile' driving structure Y'at the front end of said chassis, said structure compris inga stationary vertical section fastenedto Said chassis andrising above the level of said' chassis,

a .collapsible section hinged adjacent the upper endof said stationary section and normally 'therean'd hinged elements secured to said chassis'rearbys'upportedin Vertical pile "drivingposition,

Wardly of said stationary section'and en'gageablei with'a lower portion 'of said Acollapsible `sec-tion for supporting said `collapsible section "in the vertical position. y

2. A pile driver' comprising a horizontal ambulatory chassis, pile' driving structurewat the f front end of said" chassis, said structure comprising'astationary vertical'section fastened to saidl chassis" and rising'abovethe level of said chassis,` a collapsible section hinged to the upper part of said' stationary section, hinged 'elements secured to'said chassis rearwardly of said stationary section andy engageablewitha lower rear part of said collapsible section for supporting said collapsible 55'3` collapsible sec-tion` being adaptedto be swung section injtheverticalpile driving lposition, said to overlie said chassis upon4 disconnection of said hinged elements "from'said-lower-rear partv of the' collapsiblesectioma vertical brace'hinged by its lowerand rearward end to' an intermediate part of Vsaid chassis"and-swingable' to engagel itsforward upper: end with `an upper part of theH collapsible section' of said'pile driving structure to hold the 'collapsible section in thepile driving position. f y' t 3.A pile' driver comprising `a horizontal ambulatorychassis," pile ndriving structurefat the frontend ofI said chassis, `said pile'drivingstruc tureicomprising a stationary vertical lsection fasf tened to 'said 'chassis and rising above the level of said chassis, a n collapsible *section* supportably hingedvon the upper end of saidstationary section, hinge means mounting said `collapsible secg tion'on said',stationary-section, said hinge means permitting said collapsible section'to swing onlyrearwardly from the erect pile-driving position, said hinge means further comprising means positively preventing said collapsible section from being swung forwardly beyond the erect position, and hinged elements secured to said chassis rearwardly of said stationary section and engageable with a lower rear portion of 'said collapsible section for supporting said collapsible section inthe erect position, said collapsible section being adapted to be swung rearwardly to overlie said chassis upon disconnection of said hinged elements from said collapsible section.

4. A pile driver comprising a horizontal ainbulatory chassis, pile driving structure at the front end of said chassis, said pile-driving structure comprising a stationary vertical section fastened to said chassis and rising above the level of said chassis, a collapsible section supportably hinged on the upper end of said stationary section to swing only rearwardlyfrom the erect piledrivng position, hinged elements secured to said chassis rearwardly of said stationary section and engageable with a lower rear part of said collapsible section in the erect position, said collapsible section being adapted to be swung rearwardly to overlie said chassis upon disconnection of said hinged elements from said part of the collapsible section, hinge means mounting said collapsible section on said stationary section, said hinge means comprising means positively preventing forward swinging of said collapsible section beyond the erect pile-driving position, said hinge means comprising pivotally connected plates and extensions on said plates occupying overlapping positions while the collapsible section is in erect position whereby sidewise movement of the collapsible section relative to said stationary section is substantially precluded.

5. A pile driver comprising a horizontal ambulatory chassis, pile driving structure at one end of said chassis, said structure comprising a stationary vertical section fastened to said chassis and rising above the level of said chassis, a collapsible section hinged on the upper end-of said stationary section, hinged elements secured to said chassis and engageable with a lower rear portion or said collapsible section for supporting said collapsible section in the erect pile-driving v lapsible section, a vertical brace hinged by its lower end to an intermediate part of saidvchassis and swingable to engage its upper end wthan upper part of the collapsible section of said pile driving structure to hold the collapsible section in the pile driving position, and means for connecting the upper end of the vertical brace with the said collapsible section of the pile driving structure, and cable means for operating the collapsible section into and out of pile driving position.

6. A pile driver comprising a horizontal ambulatory chassis, pile driving structure at one end of said chassis, said structure comprising astationary vertical section fastened to said chassis and rising above the level of said chassis, a collapsible section hinged on the upper endy of said' stationary section, hinged elements secured to said chassis inwardly of said stationary section and engageable with a lower rear portion of said collapsible section for supporting said collapsible section in the erect pile driving position, said collapsible section being adapted to be swung to overlie said chassis upon disconnection of said hinged elements from said collapsible section, a vertical brace hinged by its lower end to an intermediate part of said chassis and swingable to engage its upper end with an upper part of the collapsible section of said pile driving structure y to hold the collapsible section in the pile driving position, means for connecting the upper end of the vertical brace with the said collapsible section of the pile driving structure, cable means for operating the collapsible section into and out of` pile driving position, and cable means for operaty 

